Wireless user equipment (UE) control over wireless network slices based on slice requirements

ABSTRACT

A wireless User Equipment (UE) controls a wireless network slice type that has slice requirements. In the UE, source Radio Resource Control (RRC) circuitry exchanges source signaling with a source Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF). During the exchange of the source signaling, target RRC circuitry exchanges target signaling with target AMFs and determines AMF characteristics. The target RRC circuitry compares the AMF characteristics to the slice requirements and selects one of the target AMFs based on the comparison. The source or target RRC circuitry exchange additional target signaling with the selected one of the target AMFs to use the wireless network slice type. User-plane circuitry exchanges user data with the wireless network slice which is controlled by the selected target AMF.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks provide wireless data services towireless user devices. Exemplary wireless data services includemachine-control, internet-access, media-streaming, andsocial-networking. Exemplary wireless user devices comprise phones,computers, vehicles, robots, and sensors. The wireless user devicesexecute user applications to support and use the wireless data services.For example, a smartphone may execute a social-networking applicationthat communicates with a content server over a wireless communicationnetwork.

The wireless communication networks have wireless access nodes whichexchange wireless signals with the wireless user devices over radiofrequency bands. The wireless signals use wireless network protocolslike Fifth Generation New Radio (5GNR), Long Term Evolution (LTE),Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI),and Low-Power Wide Area Network (LP-WAN). The wireless access nodesexchange network signaling and user data with network elements that areoften clustered together into wireless network cores. The networkelements comprise Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs),Session Management Functions (SMFs), User Plane Functions (UPFs), andthe like. The wireless access nodes are coupled to the wireless networkcores over backhaul links.

A wireless network slice comprises a set of network elements like anSMF/UPF combination or just a UPF. The wireless user devices may requesta specific type of wireless network slice like a low-latency slice or amachine-communication slice. The AMFs interact with other networkelements to authorize the wireless user devices to use the wirelessnetwork slices. In some cases, the AMFs perform AMF reselection to otherAMFs due to overloads or user mobility. Unfortunately, the wireless userdevices do not effectively control their wireless network slices.Moreover, the wireless user devices do not efficiently optimize the AMFsthat control their wireless network slices.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

A wireless User Equipment (UE) controls a wireless network slice typethat has slice requirements. In the UE, source Radio Resource Control(RRC) circuitry exchanges source signaling with a source Access andMobility Management Function (AMF). During the exchange of the sourcesignaling, target RRC circuitry exchanges target signaling with targetAMFs and determines AMF characteristics. The target RRC circuitrycompares the AMF characteristics to the slice requirements and selectsone of the target AMFs based on the comparison. The source or target RRCcircuitry exchange additional target signaling with the selected one ofthe target AMFs to use the wireless network slice type. User-planecircuitry exchanges user data with the wireless network slice which iscontrolled by the selected target AMF.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless communication network that comprises awireless User Equipment (UE) that controls a wireless network slicebased on slice requirements.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary operation of the wireless communicationnetwork that comprises the wireless UE that controls the wirelessnetwork slice based on the slice requirements.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary operation of the wireless communicationnetwork that comprises the wireless UE that controls the wirelessnetwork slice based on the slice requirements.

FIG. 4 illustrates a Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communicationnetwork that comprises a 5G New Radio (5GNR) UE that controls a wirelessnetwork slice that has slice requirements.

FIG. 5 illustrates the 5GNR UE in the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 6 illustrates a Radio Unit (RU), Distributed Unit (DU), andCentralized Unit (CU) in the 5G wireless communication network.

FIG. 7 illustrates a wireless network core in the 5G wirelesscommunication network.

FIG. 8 further illustrates the wireless network core in the 5G wirelesscommunication network.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary operation of the 5G wirelesscommunication network that comprises the 5GNR UE to control the wirelessnetwork slice type that has the slice requirements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates wireless communication network 100 that compriseswireless User Equipment (UE) 101 that controls wireless network slice140 which has slice requirements. Wireless communication network 100comprises User Equipment (UE) 101, wireless access nodes 131-132, sourceAccess and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 141, target AMFs 142-144,and wireless network slice 140. UE 101 comprises source Radio ResourceControl (RRC) circuitry 102, target RRC circuitry 103 and user-planecircuitry 104. Wireless communication network 100 delivers services toUE 101 like internet-access, machine-control, media-streaming, or someother data communications product. UE 101 comprises a computer, phone,vehicle, sensor, robot, or some other data appliance with wirelesscommunication circuitry.

Various examples of network operation and configuration are describedherein. In some examples, source RRC circuitry 102 exchanges sourcesignaling with source Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 141over one of frequency bands 121-124 and wireless access nodes 131-132.During this exchange of source signaling, target RRC circuitry 103exchanges target signaling with target AMFs 142-144 over at least someof frequency bands 121-124 and wireless access nodes 131-132. Target RRCcircuitry 103 determines AMF characteristics for target AMFs 142-144responsive to the target network signaling. The exchange of the targetsignaling to determine the AMF characteristics may be responsive to thesource signaling exchange between source RRC circuitry 102 and sourceAMF 141. Target RRC circuitry 103 compares the AMF characteristics tothe slice requirements for the slice type of wireless network slice 140.Target RRC circuitry 103 selects one of target AMFs 142-144 based on thecomparison of the AMF characteristics to the slice requirements. ThisAMF comparison and selection may be responsive to a loss of receivedsignal strength at UE 101. In some examples, target RRC circuitry 103exchanges additional signaling with the selected one of target AMFs142-144 to use the wireless network slice type. In other examples,target RRC circuitry 103 exchanges signaling with source RRC circuitry102, and source RRC circuitry 102 exchanges the additional signalingwith the selected one of target AMFs 142-144 to use the wireless networkslice type. User-plane circuitry 104 exchanges user data with wirelessnetwork slice 140 over at least one of frequency bands 121-124 andwireless access nodes 131-132. Wireless network slice 140 is controlledby the selected one of target AMFs 142-144.

In some examples, source AMF 141 authenticates wireless UE 101 duringthe exchange of the source signaling. AMF 141 transfers authenticationtokens for UE 101 to source RRC circuitry 102. Target RRC circuitry 103transfers the authentication tokens to target AMFs 142-144. AMFs 142-144authenticate UE 101 based on the authentication tokens to avoid full UEre-authentication. Advantageously, UE 101 effectively controls wirelessnetwork slice 140. Moreover, UE 101 efficiently optimizes AMFs 142-144that control wireless network slice 140.

RRC circuitry 102-103 in UE 101 and AMFs 141-144 communicate overfrequency bands 121-124 and wireless access nodes 131-132. Differentpairs of RRC circuitry 102-103 and AMFs 141-144 may use differentfrequency bands, radios, and wireless access nodes. Different pairs ofRRC circuitry 102-103 and AMFs 141-144 may use the same frequency bands,radios, and wireless access nodes. UE 101 and wireless access nodes131-132 communicate over Radio Access Technologies (RATs) like FifthGeneration New Radio (5GNR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Institute ofElectrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (WIFI), Bluetooth, orsome other wireless protocol. The RATs use electromagnetic frequenciesin the low-band, mid-band, high-band, or some other portion of theelectromagnetic spectrum. The communication links between wirelessaccess nodes 131-132, wireless network slice 140, and AMFs 141-144 anduse metallic links, glass fibers, radio channels, or some othercommunication media. The communication links use Ethernet, IP, TimeDivision Multiplex (TDM), Data Over Cable System Interface Specification(DOCSIS), General Packet Radio Service Transfer Protocol (GTP), 5GNR,LTE, WIFI, virtual switching, inter-processor communication, businterfaces, and/or some other data communication protocols. UE 101 andwireless access nodes 131-132 comprise antennas, amplifiers, filters,modulation, analog/digital interfaces, microprocessors, software,memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. Wireless networkslice 140 and AMFs 141-144 comprise microprocessors, software, memories,transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. The microprocessors compriseDigital Signal Processors (DSP), Central Processing Units (CPU),Graphical Processing Units (GPU), Application-Specific IntegratedCircuits (ASIC), and/or the like. The memories comprise Random AccessMemory (RAM), flash circuitry, disk drives, and/or the like. Thememories store software like operating systems, user applications, radioapplications, and network functions. The microprocessors retrieve thesoftware from the memories and execute the software to drive theoperation of wireless communication network 100 as described herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary operation of wireless communicationnetwork 100 that comprises wireless UE 101 that controls wirelessnetwork slice 140 which has the slice requirements. The operation maydiffer in other examples. Source RRC circuitry 102 exchanges sourcesignaling with source AMF 141 (201). In response to the exchange ofsource signaling, target RRC circuitry 103 exchanges target signalingwith target AMFs 142-144 (202). For example, source RRC circuitry 102and source AMF 102 may identify the slice type for slice 140, and targetRRC circuitry 103 and target AMFs 142-144 may then identify the best AMFfor the slice type. Target RRC circuitry 103 determines AMFcharacteristics for target AMFs 142-144 responsive to the target networksignaling (202). Target RRC circuitry 103 compares the AMFcharacteristics to slice requirements for the slice type of wirelessnetwork slice 140 (203). Target RRC circuitry 103 selects one of targetAMFs 142-144 based on the comparison of the AMF characteristics to theslice requirements (203). In this example, target RRC circuitry 103exchanges additional signaling with the selected one of target AMFs142-144 to use the slice type of wireless network slice type (204).User-plane circuitry 104 exchanges user data with wireless network slice140 which is controlled by the selected one of target AMFs 142-144(205).

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary operation of wireless communicationnetwork 100 that comprises wireless UE 101 that controls wirelessnetwork slice 140 based on the slice requirements. The operation maydiffer in other examples. Source RRC circuitry 102 exchanges signalingwith source AMF 141. In response, AMF 141 controls wireless networkslice 140 through the exchange of signaling. Source RRC circuitry 102indicates wireless network slice 140 to user-plane circuitry 104.User-plane circuitry 104 exchanges user data with external systems overwireless network slice 140. In response to the use of wireless networkslice 140, source RRC circuitry 102 indicates the slice type forwireless network slice 140 to target RRC circuitry 103. In response,target RRC circuitry 103 exchanges signaling with target AMFs 142-144 toobtain AMF info. Target RRC circuitry 103 determines AMF characteristicsfor target AMFs 142-144 base on the AMF info. Target RRC circuitry 103compares the AMF characteristics to the slice requirements for the slicetype of wireless network slice 140. Target RRC circuitry 103 selectstarget AMF 143 (in this example) based on the comparison of the AMFcharacteristics to the slice requirements. Target RRC circuitry 103indicates target AMF 143 and network slice 140 to source AMF 141. SourceAMF 141 indicates UE 101 and target AMF 143 to AMF 143. In response, AMF143 controls wireless network slice 140 through the exchange ofsignaling. Source RRC circuitry 102 and target AMF 143 exchangesignaling. User-plane circuitry 104 exchanges user data with externalsystems over wireless network slice 140.

FIG. 4 illustrates Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communication network400 that comprises 5G New Radio (5GNR) UE 401 that controls a wirelessnetwork slice type that has slice requirements. 5G wirelesscommunication network 400 comprises an example of wireless communicationnetwork 100, although network 100 may vary from this example. 5Gwireless communication network 400 comprises: UE 401, Radio Units (RUs411-413) Distributed Units (DUs) 414-415, Centralized Units (CUs)416-417, User Plane Function (UPF) 418, AMFs 421-424, and SessionManagement Functions (SMFs) 425-428. UPF 418 is part of wireless networkslice 440 that has slice requirements. For example, UPF 418 may serveultra-low-latency communications for an augmented reality slice. UE 401comprises Radio Resource Control circuitry (RRC) 402-403 and ServiceData Adaption Protocol circuitry (SDAP).

Initially, RRC 402 attaches to CU 416 over a first frequency band, RU411, and DU 414—perhaps based on signal strength. CU 416 selects AMF 421based on UE location and registers RRC 402 with AMF 421. AMF 421 and RRC402 exchange data to authenticate UE 401 and establish an N1 link. RRC402 reports UE capabilities for frequency bands and slices over theN1—including a request for the slice type of slice 440. AMF 421authorizes UE 401 for wireless network slice 440, and in response,signals SMF 425 to control wireless network slice 440. SMF 425 selectsand signals UPF 418 to serve SDAP 404 over RU 411, DU 414, and CU 416.AMF 421 signals CU 416 to serve UE 401, and CU 416 signals RRC 402 touse wireless network slice 440. An SDAP and UPF 418 exchange user datafor wireless network slice 440 over the first frequency band, RU 411, DU414, and CU 416. UPF 418 may exchange the user data with externalsystems.

In response to authorizing UE 401 for wireless network slice 440, AMF421 directs RRC 402 to probe for a better AMF to control wirelessnetwork slice 440. AMF 421 transfers authentication tokens for the AMFprobe to RRC 402. RRC 402 directs RRC 403 to probe for the AMF for slice440 using the authentication tokens. RRC 403 translates UE location intoa set of frequency bands. Over a second frequency band, RRC 403 attachesto CU 416 over RU 412 and DU 414 and requests an AMF for the slice typeusing an authentication token. CU 416 selects AMF 422 based on the UElocation, slice type, and previous selection of AMF 421. CU 416registers RRC 403 with AMF 422 using the authentication token. AMF 422authenticates UE 401 based on the token. For example, AMF 421 maydigitally sign the token with a private key and AMF 422 may verify thedigital signature with a public key. AMF 422 and RRC 403 exchange datato establish an N1 link. RRC 403 requests AMF characteristics from AMF422—particularly the AMF characteristics that correspond to the slicerequirements for slice 440. AMF 422 transfers the requested AMFcharacteristics to RRC 403 over the N1 link. RRC 403 deregisters fromAMF 422.

Over a third one of the frequency bands, RRC 403 attaches to CU 417 overRU 413 and DU 415 and requests an AMF for the slice type using anotherauthentication token. CU 417 selects AMF 423 based on the UE locationand slice type. CU 417 registers RRC 403 with AMF 423 using theauthentication token. AMF 423 authenticates UE 401 based on the token.AMF 423 and RRC 403 exchange data to establish an N1 link. RRC 403requests AMF characteristics from AMF 423—particularly the AMFcharacteristics that correspond to the slice requirements. AMF 423transfers the requested AMF characteristics to RRC 403 over the N1 link.RRC 403 deregisters from AMF 422.

Over the same frequency band, RRC 403 re-attaches to CU 417 over RU 413and DU 415 and requests another AMF for the slice type using anotherauthentication token. CU 417 selects AMF 424 based on the UE location,slice type, and previous selection of AMF 423. CU 417 registers RRC 403with AMF 424 using the authentication token which authenticates UE 401based on the token. AMF 424 and RRC 403 exchange data to establish an N1link. RRC 403 requests AMF characteristics—particularly the AMFcharacteristics that correspond to the slice requirements. AMF 424transfers the requested AMF characteristics to RRC 403 over the N1 link.RRC 403 deregisters from AMF 424.

RRC 403 compares the AMF characteristics for AMFs 421-424 to the slicerequirements for wireless network slice 440. For example, wirelessnetwork slice 440 may require enhanced handover processing to maintain alow-latency service. RRC 403 selects one of AMFs 421-424 to controlwireless network slice 440 for UE 401. In this example, RRC 403 selectsAMF 424 based on proximity to both UPF 418 and CU 417. RRC 403 directsRRC 402 to deregister from AMF 421.

RRC 403 attaches to CU 417 over RU 413 and DU 415 and requests AMF 424for wireless network slice 440 using an authentication token. CU 417selects AMF 424 based on the request and registers RRC 403 with AMF 424using the authentication token. AMF 424 and RRC 402 exchange data toestablish an N1 link. AMF 424 signals SMF 428 to control wirelessnetwork slice 440. SMF 428 signals UPF 418 to serve SDAP 404 over RU413, DU 415, and CU 417. AMF 424 signals CU 417 to serve UE 401, and CU417 signals RRC 402 to use wireless network slice 440. The SDAP and UPF418 exchange user data for wireless network slice 440 over the thirdfrequency band, RU 413, DU 415, and CU 417. UPF 418 may exchange theuser data with external systems. AMF 424 controls wireless network slice440 by signaling RRC 402, CU 417 and SMF 428.

FIG. 5 illustrates 5GNR UE 401 in 5G wireless communication network 400.5GNR UE 401 comprises an example of UE 101, although UE 101 may differ.5GNR UE 401 comprises 5GNR radios 501-503, processing circuitry 504, anduser components 505. 5GNR radios 501-503 comprise antennas, amplifiers,filters, modulation, analog-to-digital interfaces, DSP, memory, andtransceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. Processing circuitry504 comprises memory, CPU, user interfaces and components, andtransceivers that are coupled over bus circuitry. The memory inprocessing circuitry 504 stores an operating system, user applications(USER), and 5GNR network applications like Physical Layer (PHY), MediaAccess Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), Packet Data ConvergenceProtocol (PDCP), Service Data Adaption Protocol (SDAP), Radio ResourceControl (RRC). The portion of processing circuitry 504 that stores andexecutes RRC 402 comprises “RRC 402 circuitry”. The portion ofprocessing circuitry that stores and executes RRC 403 comprises “RRC 403circuitry”. The portion of processing circuitry that stores and executesthe SDAP comprises “user-plane circuitry”. The antennas in 5GNR radios501-503 are wirelessly coupled to RUs 411-413 over 5GNR links.Transceivers (XCVRs) in 5GNR radios 501-503 are coupled to transceiversin processing circuitry 504. Transceivers in processing circuitry 504are coupled to user components 505 like displays, controllers, andmemory. The CPU in processing circuitry 504 executes the operatingsystem, user applications, and network applications to exchange userdata over 5GNR radios 501-503.

FIG. 6 illustrates Radio Unit (RU) 411, Distributed Unit (DU) 414, andCentralized Unit (CU) 416 in 5G wireless communication network 400. RU411, DU 414, and CU 416 comprises an example of wireless access nodes131-132, although nodes 131-132 may differ. RU 411, DU 414, and CU 416also comprise examples of RUs 412-413, DU 415, and CU 417. RU 411comprises antennas, amplifiers, filters, modulation, analog-to-digitalinterfaces, DSP, memory, and transceivers that are coupled over buscircuitry. DU 414 and CU 416 comprise memory, CPU, and transceivers thatare coupled over bus circuitry. The memory in DU 414 and CU 415 storeoperating systems and 5GNR network applications. The 5GNR networkapplications in DU 414 include PHY, MAC, and RLC. The 5GNR networkapplications in CU 416 include PDCP, SDAP, and RRC. The antennas in RU411 are wirelessly coupled to UE 401 over 5GNR links. Transceivers in RU411 are coupled to transceivers in DU 414 over fronthaul links likeenhanced Common Public Radio Interface (eCPRI). Transceivers in DU 414coupled to transceivers in CU 416 over mid-haul links. Transceivers inCU 416 are coupled to AMFs 421-422 and UPF 418 over backhaul links. TheCPU in DU 414 executes its operating system and network applications toexchange 5GNR data units with RU 411 and to exchange 5GNR data unitswith CU 416. The CPU in CU 416 executes its operating system and networkapplications to exchange the 5GNR data units with DU 414, exchange N2/N1signaling with AMFs 421-422, and exchange N3 data with UPF 418.

FIG. 7 illustrates wireless network core 700 in 5G wirelesscommunication network 400. Wireless network core 700 comprises anexample of wireless network slice 140 and AMFs 141-144, although slice140 and AMFs 141-144 may differ. Wireless network core 700 alsocomprises an example of AMFs 423-424 and SMFs 427-428. Wireless networkcore 700 comprises Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI)hardware 701, NFVI hardware drivers 702, NFVI operating systems 703,NFVI virtual layer 704, and NFVI Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) 705.NFVI hardware 701 comprises Network Interface Cards (NICs), CPU, RAM,Flash/Disk Drives (DRIVE), and Data Switches (SW). NFVI hardware drivers702 comprise software that is resident in the NIC, CPU, RAM, DRIVE, andSW. NFVI operating systems 703 comprise kernels, modules, applications,containers, hypervisors, and the like. NFVI virtual layer 704 comprisesvNIC, vCPU, vRAM, vDRIVE, and vSW. NFVI VNFs 705 comprise AMFs 721-722,SMFs 725-726, and User Plane Function (UPF) 718. Other VNFs likeAuthentication Server Function (AUSF) and Network Repository Function(NRF) are typically present but are omitted for clarity. Wirelessnetwork core 700 may be located at a single site or be distributedacross multiple geographic locations. The NIC in NFVI hardware 701 arecoupled to CUs 416-417 over backhaul links. The NIC in NFVI hardware 701are coupled to external data systems over network links. NFVI hardware701 executes NFVI hardware drivers 702, NFVI operating systems 703, NFVIvirtual layer 704, and NFVI VNFs 705 to form and operate UPF 418, AMFs421-422, and SMFs 425-426.

FIG. 8 further illustrates wireless network core 700 in 5G wirelesscommunication network 400. AMP 421 performs N1 termination, N2termination, UE ciphering & integrity protection, UE registration andconnection, UE mobility and reachability, UE authentication andauthorization, and short messaging. SMF 425 performs N1 termination,session establisment/management, UPF selection and control, policy andcharging control, and traffic steering and routing. UPF 418 performspacket routing & forwarding, packet inspection and policy, QoS handlingand lawful intercept, PDU interconnection, and mobility anchoring.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary operation of 5G wireless communicationnetwork 400 that comprises 5GNR UE 401 to control wireless network slice440 that has a slice type and slice requirements. The operation maydiffer in other examples. Initially, RRC 402 attaches to the RRC in CU416 over DU 414. The RRC in CU 416 selects AMF 421 based on UE locationand registers RRC 402 with AMF 421. AMF 421 and RRC 402 exchange data toauthenticate UE 401 and establish an N1 link over DU 414 and CU 416. RRC402 reports UE capabilities for frequency bands and slice 440 over theN1. AMF 421 authorizes UE 401 for wireless network slice 440, and inresponse, signals SMF 425 to control wireless network slice 440. SMF 425selects and signals UPF 418 to serve an SDAP in UE 401 over DU 414 andCU 416. AMF 421 signals the RRC in CU 416 to serve UE 401, and the RRCin CU 416 signals RRC 402 to use wireless network slice 440. The SDAP inUE 401 and UPF 418 exchange user data for wireless network slice 440over DU 414 (PHY, MAC, RLC) and CU 416 (PDCP, SDAP). UPF 418 mayexchange the user data with external systems.

In response to authorizing UE 401 for wireless network slice 440, AMF421 directs RRC 402 to probe for a better AMF to control wirelessnetwork slice 440. AMF 421 transfers authentication tokens for the AMFprobe to RRC 402. RRC 402 directs RRC 403 to probe for the AMF for slice440 using the authentication tokens. RRC 403 translates the current UElocation into a set of frequency bands. Over one of the frequency bands,RRC 403 attaches to the RRC in CU 417 over DU 415. RRC 403 requests anAMF for the slice type from the RRC using an authentication token. TheRRC in CU 416 selects AMF 424 based on the UE location, slice type, andde-selection of AMF 421. CU 417 registers RRC 403 with AMF 424 using theauthentication token. AMF 424 authenticates UE 401 based on the token.AMF 424 and RRC 403 exchange data to establish an N1 link over DU 415(PHY, MAC, RLC) and CU 417 (PDCP, RRC). RRC 403 requests AMFcharacteristics—particularly the AMF characteristics that correspond tothe slice requirements of slice 440. AMF 424 transfers the requested AMFcharacteristics to RRC 403 over the N1 link. RRC 403 obtains AMFcharacteristics for AMFs 422-423 in a similar manner.

RRC 403 compares the AMF characteristics for AMFs 421-424 to the slicerequirements for wireless network slice 440. RRC 403 selects one of AMFs421-424 to control wireless network slice 440 for UE 401. In thisexample, RRC 403 selects AMF 424 and signals RRC 402 to deregister fromAMF 421. RRC 403 signals AMF 424 to control network slice 440 for UE402, and in response AMF 424 signals SMF 428 to control wireless networkslice 440 for UE 401. SMF 428 signals UPF 418 to serve the SDAP in UE401 over DU 415 and CU 417. AMF 424 signals the RRC in CU 417 to serveUE 401, and the RRC in CU 417 signals RRC 403 to use wireless networkslice 440. The SDAP in UE 401 and UPF 418 exchange user data forwireless network slice 440 over DU 415 (PHY, MAC, RLC) and CU 417 (PDCP,SDAP). UPF 418 may exchange the user data with external systems. AMF 424controls wireless network slice 440 for UE 401 by signaling RRC 403, theRRC in CU 417, and SMF 428.

The wireless data network circuitry described above comprises computerhardware and software that form special-purpose user circuitry tocontrol wireless network slice types based on slice requirements. Thecomputer hardware comprises processing circuitry like CPUs, DSPs, GPUs,transceivers, bus circuitry, and memory. To form these computer hardwarestructures, semiconductors like silicon or germanium are positively andnegatively doped to form transistors. The doping comprises ions likeboron or phosphorus that are embedded within the semiconductor material.The transistors and other electronic structures like capacitors andresistors are arranged and metallically connected within thesemiconductor to form devices like logic circuitry and storageregisters. The logic circuitry and storage registers are arranged toform larger structures like control units, logic units, andRandom-Access Memory (RAM). In turn, the control units, logic units, andRAM are metallically connected to form CPUs, DSPs, GPUs, transceivers,bus circuitry, and memory.

In the computer hardware, the control units drive data between the RAMand the logic units, and the logic units operate on the data. Thecontrol units also drive interactions with external memory like flashdrives, disk drives, and the like. The computer hardware executesmachine-level software to control and move data by driving machine-levelinputs like voltages and currents to the control units, logic units, andRAM. The machine-level software is typically compiled from higher-levelsoftware programs. The higher-level software programs comprise operatingsystems, utilities, user applications, and the like. Both thehigher-level software programs and their compiled machine-level softwareare stored in memory and retrieved for compilation and execution. Onpower-up, the computer hardware automatically executesphysically-embedded machine-level software that drives the compilationand execution of the other computer software components which thenassert control. Due to this automated execution, the presence of thehigher-level software in memory physically changes the structure of thecomputer hardware machines into special-purpose user circuitry tocontrol wireless network slice types based on slice requirements.

The above description and associated figures teach the best mode of theinvention. The following claims specify the scope of the invention. Notethat some aspects of the best mode may not fall within the scope of theinvention as specified by the claims. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the features described above can be combined in variousways to form multiple variations of the invention. Thus, the inventionis not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but only bythe following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating a wireless User Equipment(UE) to control a wireless network slice type that has slicerequirements, the method comprising: source Radio Resource Control (RRC)circuitry exchanging source signaling with a source Access and MobilityManagement Function (AMF); during the exchange of the source signaling,target RRC circuitry exchanging target signaling with target AMFs,determining AMF characteristics for the target AMFs responsive to thetarget network signaling, comparing the AMF characteristics to the slicerequirements, and selecting one of the target AMFs based on thecomparison; at least one of the source RRC circuitry and the target RRCcircuitry exchanging additional target signaling with the selected oneof the target AMFs to use the wireless network slice type; anduser-plane circuitry exchanging user data with a wireless network slicethat comprises the wireless network slice type and that is controlled bythe selected one of the target AMFs.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein:the source RRC circuitry exchanging the source signaling with the sourceAMF comprises exchanging the source signaling over a source N1 signalinglink; and the target RRC circuitry exchanging the target signaling withthe target AMFs comprises exchanging the target signaling over a targetN1 signaling link.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one ofthe source RRC circuitry and the target RRC circuitry exchanging theadditional target signaling with the selected one of the target AMFscomprises the target RRC circuitry exchanging the additional targetsignaling with the selected one of the target AMFs.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one of the source RRC circuitry and thetarget RRC circuitry exchanging the additional target signaling with theselected one of the target AMFs comprises the target RRC circuitryexchanging network signaling with the source RRC circuitry and thesource RRC circuitry exchanging the additional target signaling with theselected one of the target AMFs.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein thesource RRC circuitry exchanging the source signaling with the source AMFand the target RRC circuitry exchanging the target signaling with thetarget AMFs comprises the source RRC circuitry and the target RRCcircuitry using a same radio.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein thesource RRC circuitry exchanging the source signaling with the source AMFand the target RRC circuitry exchanging the target signaling with thetarget AMFs comprises the source RRC circuitry and the target RRCcircuitry using a same frequency band.
 7. The method of claim 1 whereinthe source RRC circuitry exchanging the source signaling with the sourceAMF and the target RRC circuitry exchanging the target signaling withthe target AMFs comprises the source RRC circuitry and the target RRCcircuitry using a same wireless access node.
 8. The method of claim 1wherein the target RRC circuitry exchanging the target signaling withtarget AMFs and determining the AMF characteristics for the target AMFscomprises exchanging the target signaling with target AMFs anddetermining the AMF characteristics in response to the source RRCcircuitry exchanging the source signaling with the source AMF.
 9. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the target RRC circuitry comparing the AMFcharacteristics to the slice requirements and selecting the one of thetarget AMFs based on the comparison comprises comparing the AMFcharacteristics to the slice requirements and selecting the one of thetarget AMFs in response to a loss of received signal strength.
 10. Themethod of claim 1 wherein: the source RRC circuitry exchanging thesource signaling with the source AMF comprises authenticating thewireless UE with the source AMF and receiving an authentication tokenfrom the source AMF; and the target RRC circuitry exchanging the targetsignaling with target AMFs comprises transferring the authenticationtoken to the target AMF that authenticates the wireless UE based on theauthentication token.
 11. A wireless User Equipment (UE) to control awireless network slice type that has slice requirements, the wireless UEcomprising: source Radio Resource Control (RRC) circuitry configured toexchange source signaling with a source Access and Mobility ManagementFunction (AMF); during the exchange of the source signaling, target RRCcircuitry configured to exchange target signaling with target AMFs,determine AMF characteristics for the target AMFs responsive to thetarget network signaling, compare the AMF characteristics to the slicerequirements, and select one of the target AMFs based on the comparison;at least one of the source RRC circuitry and the target RRC circuitryconfigured to exchange additional target signaling with the selected oneof the target AMFs to use the wireless network slice type; anduser-plane circuitry configured to exchange user data with a wirelessnetwork slice that comprises the wireless network slice type and that iscontrolled by the selected one of the target AMFs.
 12. The wireless UEof claim 11 wherein: the source RRC circuitry is configured to exchangethe source signaling over a source N1 signaling link; and the target RRCcircuitry is configured to exchange the target signaling over a targetN1 signaling link.
 13. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the at leastone of the source RRC circuitry and the target RRC circuitry configuredto exchange the additional target signaling with the selected one of thetarget AMFs comprises the target RRC circuitry configured to exchangethe additional target signaling with the selected one of the targetAMFs.
 14. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the at least one of thesource RRC circuitry and the target RRC circuitry configured to exchangethe additional target signaling with the selected one of the target AMFscomprises the target RRC circuitry configured to exchange networksignaling with the source RRC circuitry and the source RRC circuitryconfigured to exchange the additional target signaling with the selectedone of the target AMFs.
 15. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein thesource RRC circuitry and the target RRC circuitry are configured to usea same radio.
 16. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the source RRCcircuitry and the target RRC circuitry are configured to use a samefrequency band.
 17. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the source RRCcircuitry and the target RRC circuitry are configured to use a samewireless access node.
 18. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the targetRRC circuitry is configured to exchange the target signaling with targetAMFs and determine the AMF characteristics for the target AMFs inresponse to the source RRC circuitry exchanging the source signalingwith the source AMF.
 19. The wireless UE of claim 11 wherein the targetRRC circuitry is configured to compare the AMF characteristics to theslice requirements and select the one of the target AMFs based on thecomparison in response to a loss of received signal strength.
 20. Thewireless UE of claim 11 wherein: the source RRC circuitry is configuredto authenticate the wireless UE with the source AMF and receive anauthentication token from the source AMF; and the target RRC circuitryis configured to transfer the authentication token to the target AMFthat authenticates the wireless UE based on the authentication token.